By Alex Mattis
Diehard fans of combat sports had their world shaken to the core this past Wednesday as news broke of K-1 heavyweight great, Badr Hari making a full-time move into professional boxing following a final kickboxing bout on January 28, 2012 against Gokhan Saki for the It’s Showtime promotion.
The 26-year-old Hari has been a modern standard of greatness in the kickboxing universe. In addition to finishing kickboxing legends Semmy Schilt and Peter Aerts, Hari was the last person to defeat the UFC-bound Alistair Overeem in combat; knocking him out in the 1st round. Still, it’s arguable that Hari hasn’t even begun to reach his prime.
Hari’s venture in to boxing brings no promises, but raises intrigue. The heavyweight division of boxing is in a reasonably perplexing state and desperately needs an injection of excitement. Always an exciting fighter, Hari has also proven to also be a lightning rod of media attention; something boxing’s Heavyweight landscape has been craving since the days of Tyson. We’re a long way off, but Hari’s arrival in boxing could lead to some serious interest.
Hari’s management affirmed that if this year’s K-1 World GP actually takes place, Badr would compete but for now, the Saki fight will be the final kickboxing bout in the career of “The Golden Boy.”
This is a sad, sad time for the kickboxing world as they lose one of the greats but, with the persistent decline of the K-1, news like this shouldn’t come as much of a shock. As for the boxing world? This is big news, huge to some. All eyes are now on Hari as he is set to begin a new chapter in his career.
